Shirt retainer



June 26, 192% 11,,5,75

D. SCHREIBER SHIRT RETAINER Filed Au 10 1921 Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID SGHBEIBER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

sHrn'r RETAINER.

Application filed August 10, 1921. Serial No. 491,066.

purpose of keeping the shirt from pulling up out of the trousers.

In the days when suspenders were used almost exclusively, the trousers were suspendcd from the shoulders and it was found that there was very little tendency on the part of the shirt to work up out of the trousers at the waist line.

Upon the advent of the belt, however, which is now so generally worn, it was found that there was a marked tendency on the part of the shirt to work upwardly out of the trousers and bulge or hang over the upper edge thereof. This is more particularly the case with active persons and also with those who are in the practice of wearing the belt somewhat loose. In the latter case, such persons form a habit of pulling up the trousers from time to time as they sag. As the trousers sag, they naturally work down outside of the shirt, so that as the trousers are again pulled up, they produce a bagging of the shirt at the waistline. This is not only unsightly in appearance, but requires frequent tucking of the overhanging or bagging portion into the trousers, which practice is not only bothersome and inconvenient, but occasions soiling of the shirt about the waistline.

Notwithstanding the disadvantages ad verted to have long been recognized, no efficient or practical means, so far as the applicant is aware, has ever been suggested or devised to overcome the same.

With these considerations in mind, the ob ject of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for effectively holding down the shirt in such manner, that it will not have a tendency to pull out of the trousers and overhang or bag at the topthereof.

In other words, the device is intended to distend the shirt downwardly at all times, so that it has a smooth, neat and pleasing appearance.

In one of its practical forms, which has been found to operate with high efficiency,

the device embodies an elastic strap to one end of which is permanently hired a keeper, the opposite ends of which are provided with male and female members for detachably securing the ends together and one end of the strap is preferably made adjustable through one of the fastening members, so as to vary the length of such strap to different waist measures.

Pronounced advantages may bev gained by incorporating into the strap, intermediate its ends, a friction member adapted to overlie the lumbar region of the back. This is particularly the case when the strap is made from silk elastic and is used in conjunction with silk shirts, since, 1n this instance, there is a tendency of the garment to slip with respect to the silk strap, particularly in the lumbar region where, in many cases, the

back is more or less hollow, and firm pressure is not imposed by the strap upon the garment in the absence of the friction member.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the following description and claim, when read in con unction with the accompanying drawings.

j The accompanying drawings illustrate one I practical embodiment of the invention, but

the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates the device of the present invention in place on a wearer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device detached;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the opposite ends of the strap showing the manner of attachment, and

Figure 4 is a fragmental view of the strap.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device embodies an elastic stra 1 preferably made of silk or cotton webblng and of sufficient length to embrace the body of the intended wearer. One end of the strap is passed through the slot 3 of a metal fastening member 4 and returned upon itself and secured to a slide 5 adapted to be shifted longitudinally of the strap for the purpose of adjusting the strap to the desired tension for any particular waist measure. The male fastening member 4 is provided with a hook portion 6 adapted to engage with the kee er of the female attaching member 8 to which the opposite end of the strap is attached, after themanner shown in Figure 3. It will be noted from this figure that the strap is so secured to the female fastening member 8 by stitches 9 that a tongue or flap 10 extends beneath the fastening member 8, so that when the parts are assembled, the metal itself does not come in contact with the shirt.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, I incorporate in the strap intermediate its ends a friction member 11, which may be of any suitable material and this member is sewed to the strap in such position that when the strap is passed about the body and secured in the front, the member 11 will overlie the lumbar region or the small of the back, which, in most persons, is slightly hollow. The device of this invention may be used if desired without the friction mem ber 11, though, in practice, I prefer to use it, particularly in connection with silk shirts and when the strap is of silk, for I find that over the small of the back, the silk strap does not exert full pressure upon the garment and is liable to work up through the strap at this point. If the friction member 11 is employed, however, it serves to impart a positive pressure on the shirt at this point and obviate slipping of the shirt as described.

In using the device of this invention, a person applies the same to the garment usually before donning the trousers and while the shirt is in a condition to drape itself gracefully about the figure. The strap is positioned about the figure slightly below the waistline, so that after the trousers are put on and fastened in position and the belt of the trousers secured in place, the strap will be entirely concealed.

It will have been noted that the elastic webbing from which the retainer is made, being the conventional webbing used in mens garters and arm elastics, is relatively lighter, narrower and much more yieldable than the material from which belts are made and this latter material would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention. Moreover, ordinary belt buckles would preclude the use of belts for my purpose.

It Wlll be observed, further, that while the function of a belt garter or shirt elastic is to hold an article up, the function of my shirt retainer is just the reverse, i. e., its function is to hold the shirt down.

Having fully pointed out the principle of the invention, I desire it to be understood that the scope thereof is commensurate with the appended claim.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A shirt retainer adapted to be worn interiorly of the trousers and exteriorly of the shirt, comprising a body encircling strap, a portion intermediate the ends of which constitutes a frictional section adapted to overlie the lumbar region of the body and frictionally engage the shirt and the remainder of which strap is elastic, and cooperating attaching means associated with the free ends of the strap to permit the ends to be secured together with the elastic portions of the strap under tension around the body over the shirt and beneath the trousers.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed the foregoing specification.

DAVID SCHREIBER. 

